Human Body 2.0: The Immune System

The Immune System

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_of_the_Immune_System_by_AIDS.gov.jpg

Basics

Function:

The immune system protects your body from bacteria, viruses, and poisons you might encounter every day. They keep you healthy by attacking unknown and foreign invaders in your body and going after cells that creating in your body that might able to endanger your life.

Organs:

The major organs of the immune system include:  Bone Marrow, Thyme, Lymph Nodes, Spleen, Appendix, and Tonsils.

BONE MARROW: Bone Marrow is extremely important to the immune system. This makes sense considering ALL CELLS in the immune system is originally produced by Bone Marrow. They are formed in a process called hematopoiesis. Bone Marrow also creates natural killer cells, immature thymocytes, red blood cells, and more.

THYMUS: The thymus is divided into two lobes. Its function is to produce Lymphocytes T-cells and B-cells as well as dispatch them to secondary organs. Basically, its purpose is to initiate antibody formation and create Lymphocytes (or white blood cells).

LYMPH NODES:  Lymph nodes are bean-shaped clusters of lymphatic tissue. There are about 500-700 of them spread out within or bodies. Their function is to capture cancer cells and bacteria that are traveling within the body in something called the lymph fluid.

SPLEEN: The main function of the spleen is to recycle old red blood cells and stores white blood cells. In addition to this, the spleen also helps fight certain types of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis.


APPENDIX: The appendix is a thin 3-4 inch long tube that hangs off of the cecum (the end of the large intestine). Its function is to inform the lymphocytes exactly where they have to go to attack infection. It also a enhances the large intestine's defenses to a larger vareity of foods and drugs.

TONSILS: Your tonsils are the two lumps of tissue on either side of your throat. Their job is to trap viruses and bacteria that you might breathe in. 

Interactions With Other Systems

The immune system works with the circulatory system but helps all body systems.

Circulatory System

The circulatory system provides all transportation needs for the immune system. For example, when the immune system identifies some bad cells, it then tells your circulatory system to send some lymphocytes (white blood cells) over to deal with the problem.

All Other Ones!

The immune system constantly patrols and gets rid of harmful cells, viruses, and bacteria in all of the organs and tissue in the body. They protect, watch over, and aid ever system in the body making sure they are safe.

Analogy: The Immune System is Like 
A Mall Security System

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The immune system is like a mall security system because...

• someone in it watches over the entire building through cameras and looks for burgulars or people that might do harm just like how the immune system looks for cells, virusis, and bacteria that might do harm in the body.
• when a burglar is found, security guards are sent to the location to get rid of them and are informed by someone through walkie talkies similar to how in the immune system when something harmful is found the appendix tells the circulatory system to send over the white blood cells to get rid of the harmfull things.

If the immune system was a mall security system, then the person watching the security camera's would be the appendix since they are what inform the lymphocytes and security guards about where the problem is. The security guards would be the lymphocytes or white blood cells since they both do the actual job of fighting the invaders. The bloodstream that the white blood cells travel through would be the many passages throughout the mall while the security camera's themselves would be the appendix and white blood cells since they are the organs that look for and find the invaders.                                                                        

Structure and Function: Tonsils

The functions of your tonsils is to trap bacteria and virusis you might breath in. They are the first line of defense in your immune system. How does the structure of it help it perform these functions?

1. You have two tonsils located on both the right and left side of your throat. The location of the tonsils make sure that they are able to easily capture as much germs as possible in the air that you breathe in. If you only had one tonsil, it wouldn't really be able to efficiently capture the bacteria, and viruses.
2. The tonsils are also squishy and flexible instead of hard and stiff. This also allows them to more efficiently capture air since it can cover more area if it is flexible. In addition to that, it's flexibility allows air to more easily travel down your windpipe.

The location as well as flexibility of the tonsils allow them to efficiently perform their function.

Sources:

http://www.immune-system-expert.com/immune-organs.html

http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_immune.html

Weekly Blog 10/16/16 - Mitosis

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Summary

Mitosis is a phase in the cell cycle. There are 6 stages within mitosis. It all starts at interphase, where the cell grows and develops. The next stage is prophase. In prophase, the chromosomes condense, spindle fibers form between centrioles, and the nuclear membrane dissolves. During metaphase, the spindle fibers get attached to the chromosomes which gets pulled into a line along the center of the cell. In the fourth stage, anaphase, the centromeres split and the spindle fibers pull the chromatids until they reach the opposite poles. In the fifth stage, telophase, the chromosomes uncoil, and a new nuclear envelope forms, the spindle fibers also disappear. During the 6th and final stage, cytokinesis, the cytoplasm of the cell completely splits in half creating two whole cells. Mitosis is the process of cell division.

SP2: Developing and using models

I developed a model when the class created a mitosis flip book. To develop the model, I had to draw each stage in six different squares and individually cut each of them out. There were about 36 squares in total. The amount of times I had to fill in a square helped imprint the information into my brain. I used the flip book to help myself visualize the whole process of cell division so I can better understand what's happening inside me right now.

XCC: Systems & System Models

Cells make up tissues which make up organs which make up systems which make up organisms. In your body, different systems such as your circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and skeletal help you function and live. All of these different systems work together to create you. In order to function properly, you need all of these different systems or parts. Each system can be broken down into cells. In fact, within a cell are a ton more parts called organelles. The organelles work together to help the cell function so you can ultimately function also. For example, the cell membrane protects inside of the cell and monitors what will go in and out of the cell. Without the cell wall, harmful substances would enter hurting the other organelle and cell as a whole. In conclusion, your body is a big system with many smaller systems and parts inside. All of these parts and systems work together to ensure you are functioning smoothly. 

Weekly Blog 10/8/16 - The Cell Cycle

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Summary

There are four phases of the cell cycle: G0, G1, G2, and M. M stands for mitosis. There are 6 stages in mitosis: interphase, prophase. metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. During mitosis, cell division occurs. The cell goes through all 6 stages in order for that to happen. The third statement in the Cell Theory states that all cells come from pre existing cells. Mitosis is how that happens.

SP6: Constructing explanations and designing solutions

I constructed an explanation of how cells come from pre-existing cells when I completed a gizmos and worksheet on the cell cycle. To answer and design solutions to the questions of the papers, I had to experiment and gather information through the gizmos by doing several things. First, I had to adjust the gizmos by following the instructions on the top box. Then, I had to experiment, read, and observe the information, graphics, and text.

XCC: Structure And Function

In an experiment, we proved how water and liquids travel in and out of a cell's membrane. In a cell, things often need to be transported in and out of the membrane (the function). Because of this, the membrane has little holes or pores that allow that function to happen. It's semi-permeable which means it acts like a barrier to most (but not all) molecules. This structure allows the function to happen. Things can be transported through osmosis, diffusion, and more. For example, in osmosis the solvent either moves in or out of the cell to even out the ratio of solvent to solute. To visualize this, we put an deshelled egg in some sort of liquid. After a period of time, you can see if the water was isotonic, hypertonic, or hypotonic, depending on the size of the egg. In order for osmosis to happen, the structure of the cell and membrane has to be semi-permeable and allow water to go through. CO2, O2, and H2O are one of the few types of molecules that can go through the membrane. 

Weekly Blog 10/2/16: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

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Summary

Both cellular respiration and photosynthesis include these basic reactants and products: Oxygen (02), Glucose (C6H12O6), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Water (H2O). In photosynthesis, the reactants are carbon dioxide and water. Once sunlight is added, the two reactants re-arrange and transform into glucose and oxygen. Since oxygen is just a by-product, it is released into the air. Glucose, however, is turned into energy through cellular respiration. In cellular respiration, oxygen and glucose transforms back into carbon dioxide and water. Energy is also created. First, the oxygen goes into the mitochondria while the glucose stays outside in the cytoplasm. In the cytoplasm, the glucose splits into two pyruvic acid molecules which then creates a bit of energy. Next, the two pyruvic acid molecules move into the mitochondria and react to the oxygen producing carbon dioxide, water, and lots of energy.

SP6: Constructing explanations and designing solutions

I constructed explanations and designed solutions when I completed two Gizmos Labs on photosynthesis and the cell energy cycle. To construct explanations and design solutions to the packet, I had to think about the information I found by experimenting in the labs. By evaluating that information, I was able to come up with and test several of my hypothesis on what was going to happen next in the lab and why. For example, a few of the questions asked me to form a hypothesis on what  think are the reactants and products of photosynthesis. Since I know what the reactants and products of cellular respiration are as well as how both processes use the same basic ones, I should be able to from a hypothesis.

XCC: Systems and System Models

The system I am identifying is the cell energy cycle. In this system, there are 2 parts: photosynthesis and cellular respiration. In class, we studied about how photosynthesis and cellular respiration work together. The reactants of photosynthesis are produced by cellular respiration while the reactants of cellular respiration are produced by photosynthesis. Both of the two processes depend on each other to create enough of their reactants so the process and cycle can continue on. In addition to this, both of the two parts require the same basic molecules. These molecules are carbon dioxide, water, oxygen, and glucose.